With the countdown to 2024 well and truly on, have you finalised your plans for 31st December? From famous nightclubs to the Salle des Etoiles, let this be your guide to celebrating New Year’s Eve out on the town in Monaco.
After covering all of the finest places to wine and dine with friends and family in our New Year’s restaurant guide, now it’s the turn of the top bars and nightclubs in the Principality.
It looks like Monaco is gearing up for a huge New Year’s Eve, with parties and concerts set to take place in every corner and venue of the Principality. From all-out club experiences to concerts and cocktails, here’s our pick of the best and the biggest.
NIGHTCLUBS
Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo is one of the longest standing nightclubs in Monaco, but its popularity has certainly not faded with time. If anything, the place is going from strength to strength, as shown in its massive plans for the New Year’s weekend. A line-up of renowned DJs, including Ollie Deejay, DOSH, RAWDØLFF and Siryll, will be performing from 29th through to 31st December from 11pm until the early hours. Click here for more information.
Next comes Buddha-Bar Monte-Carlo, with its combination of party and in-house dining. There’s a €490 menu on offer in the restaurant and a €450 Omakase menu in the lounge bar, while DJ Papa will be serving up the tunes in the club. For more information and reservations, which are highly recommended, click here.
Buddha Bar Monte-Carlo will take you from dinner table to dancefloor. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
Then there’s Twigaand its New Year’s Eve Gala featuring live music by Alessandro Ristori and The Portofinos as well as an exquisite dining experience blending Italian and “new” Asian cuisine. For reservations, click here.
MK Club down on the Route de la Piscine will be hosting a Studio 54-themed party on 31st December from 10am until 7am. Yes, 7am! It promises to be an unforgettable night. For more information, click here.
BARS
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort’s Blue Gin has been transformed into the Antarctic-inspired Blue Ice for the holidays, complete with frosted fir trees and sledges as seating. The New Year’s Eve programme features fireworks, a live DJ and one of the most inventive cocktail menus in the Principality at the moment.
There are blues of a different hue over at the Hôtel de Paris’Bar Américain, which will be pairing live jazz and soul with elegant cocktails and an à la carte dinner service. It is worth noting that there will be a minimum €750 spend on cocktails and other beverages in place here.
Another option is the Crystal Bar at the Hôtel Hermitage, with its special aperitif evening from 7pm. There are two canapé menus on offer here: a €40 package for four gourmet canapés and a cocktail or the €65 menu that offers five dishes and a drink. For more information, click here.
ICONIC VENUES
Live music in the lounge bar of the Salle Europe will provide the perfect backdrop to an evening at the games tables of the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Spending the evening at this legendary Monaco address offers a different kind of thrill to a night on the dancefloor, but will provide an insight into the golden history and heritage of the Principality in a way that no other place can dream of. For the full rundown of the Casino’s scheduling over the holidays, click here.
Make memories at the Casino de Monte-Carlo this coming New Year’s Eve. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
And the final spot on the list goes to the famous Salle des Etoiles and its ABBA tribute show. The doors to ‘The Show: A Tribute to ABBA’ will open at 8pm. Tickets cost €665 and the event is suitable for all aged seven and up. Click here to find out more.
Never before seen on a French or Monegasque stage, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic ‘The Phantom of the Monaco’ premiered at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo on 16th December to a full house that included Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Caroline.
Prince Albert and Princess Caroline, along with Minister of State Pierre Dartout and other Monaco dignitaries, were among those who turned out on the opening night of the “world’s most famous” musical, which will be performed a total of 20 times in Monaco over the holiday season.
After the show, Prince Albert and Princess Caroline mingled with the performers and congratulated the Opéra’s Director Cecilia Bartoli on the clear success of the Temple Live Entertainment Ltd and Broadway Italia SRL co-production.
Opéra de Monte-Carlo Director Cecilia Bartoli is pictured between Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Caroline of Hanover. Photo credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco
WHERE TO FIND TICKETS
The final performance is set to take place on New Year’s Eve at 8pm and the audience will be encouraged to dress up in their finest and don a mask suitable for a masquerade ball at the Palais Garnier.
Those who missed out on tickets will be happy to hear that a few precious seats have become available for this ultimate performance. They each cost €280 and can be reserved via the Opéra de Monte-Carlo’s official ticket office.
There also appears to be a handful of seats available for the evening performance on Thursday 21st December.
Last minute tickets do sometimes become available for this type of production and if you are an avid fan of the musical – and don’t mind waiting around outside – then you can always head down to the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in the hours before the performance to try your luck at the onsite ticket office.
Whichever performance you choose, matinee or evening, be sure to snap up those seats quickly – The Phantom of the Opera in Monaco has been a near sell-out success!
There’s still time to get your hands on Christmas cards from the joint Red Cross and Fights AIDS Monaco campaign, but you’ll have to be quick!
Two of Monaco’s leading charitable associations, the local branch of the Red Cross – the Croix Rouge in French – and Fight AIDS Monaco, have teamed up to launch a Christmas card campaign that will raise funds for various initiatives and spread some holiday cheer around the Principality.
The cards have been available to order via the Croix Rouge Monégasque website for some time now, but deadlines are getting tight as the big day quickly approaches so the best way to get a hold of one or more of these cards is to call the association’s office directly on +377 97 97 68 13 or pop in to see the team at 27 Boulevard de Suisse. The cards cost just €2.50 each and all of the proceeds will go to charity programmes.
To explore the range of other products sold on the Croix Rouge website, click here. You can also click here to make a direct donation.
To find out more about Fight AIDS Monaco, click here.
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From exquisite takes on the traditional Yule log to Cova’s beautiful Italian offerings, here are the finest desserts and treats on sale for Christmas in Monaco.
Whether it’s a big family gathering that you’re hosting this year or that you’ve been invited along to a sophisticated dinner among friends, there will be something on this list of delightful desserts to impress all around the table.
Let’s start with the limited edition Yule log currently on sale at the Hôtel Métropole. The fruit of a culinary collaboration between by Chef Christophe Cussac and Pastry Chef Patrick Mesiano, this festive treat captures the essence of Christmas in the Mediterranean with its locally sourced ingredients. It costs €75 and can serve between four and six people.
The Hôtel Métropole’s adorable Christmas cracker of a Yule log. Photo via Instagram
Next up are a range of creations from Chef Gianluca Giorgeschi of the Rampoldi. First is the glorious Bûche Miel et Amandes: a white chocolate mousse and a vanilla sponge layered with honey-almond cream, crispy feuilletine and glazed with honey and pollen.
The Rampoldi’s inspired take on the traditional Yule log: the Bûche Miel et Amandes. Photo via the Rampoldi
Another favourite is the Gateau Noël with its Italian-style sponge, crunchy meringue, chestnut heart and vanilla Chantilly, while the Gateau Horologe will certainly go down a treat with chocolate lovers. It boasts a 55% chocolate cream, criollo mousse, cocoa sand and hazelnut praline as well as an intricate clockface design.
Chef Gianluca Giorgeschi of the Rampoldi’s Gateau Horologe for Christmas 2023. Photo via the Rampoldi
Over at The Niwaki, the restaurant’s brilliant chefs have put their heads together to come up with a selection of stunning mignardisesthat will make the perfect gifts or small servings. The range embodies The Niwaki’s fusion of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and contemporary innovation, and can be picked up directly from the restaurant.
Finally comes Pasticceria Cova, the beloved Italian bakery brand. Top of our list here is the Milanese masterpiece of a Panettone with its light, fluffy texture and tantalising fruity aroma.
You could easily spend a small fortune on the Pasticceria Cova range this Christmas! Photo via Cova
But there are plenty of other options here too, such as the elegant marrons glacés, which are individually wrapped glazed chestnuts that make a delicious alternative to chocolate truffles.
Cova’s incredible range of gem-like pralines will always please a crowd and there’s a flavour for everyone, from pistachio to Arabica coffee, but for real chocolate enthusiasts, the gianduiotti are miniature edible masterpieces. These velvet-textured chocolate and Piedmont hazelnut ingots are carefully wrapped in golden paper and presented in their unique geometric shape. They are a must-try this Christmas!
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Monaco Life meets Erika Sheramin Sora Torres de Beauseigneur and her team to learn about AMI, the Monegasque Ibero-American Association that is bringing the best of Latin America, Spain and Portugal to Monaco.
Erika Sheramin, or Sheramin as she rather be called, was born in Peru and then moved to Venezuela to study paediatric nursing. She happened to arrive in Monaco in 2003, the same year my husband and I did. She is married to French born David Beauseigneur, and they have three adorable children. She currently works for the Direction de l’Action et de l’Aide Sociales in Monaco (DASO) and is president of AMI.
In 2021, Sheramin and a group of close friends, who share the same vision and are passionate about Latin culture, decided to create AMI to strengthen cultural ties between Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and Monaco. AMI’s close knit team is comprised of Susana Perdiguero de Segovia (Spain), Vice-President; David Beauseigneur (France), General Secretary; Lourdes (Lulu) Pages (Venezuela), Treasurer; Luisa Morales (Colombia), Secretary; Samira Irakelle Bezerra Nicacio (Spain/Brazil), Administrator and Public Relations Manager; Sarah Rivera de Bolonotto (Dominican Republic), International Cooperation Project Manager and AMI representative in Latin America; and Celine Guitard Torres (France/Spain), Administrator. They form a great team and are all actively working on organising events to raise funds for their solidarity projects for the most deprived. Due to their typical long last names, we will be addressing them by their first name.
Samira’s fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, French, English and Italian make her a great asset in her PR position. She explained the mission behind AMI.
“AMI is a non-profit association that aims to promote cultural exchanges between Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Monaco,” she told Monaco Life. “We organise events and activities in the fields of gastronomy, fashion, music, and art to share the traditions and know-how of these countries. We also support international competitions and seek to publicise the historical, musical, sports and gastronomic culture of these regions.”
Sarah added: “The association began to promote Ibero-American culture to awaken the curiosity of the principality. But it became much more as we realised we could help with small gestures that gave great results. By showing who we are in a cultural way, we create awareness of our existence and our countries’ needs.”
Prince Albert with Sarah, Sheramin, Luisa, Marta and Lula at the YCM in May 2022. Source: Prince’s Palace
Collaboration, creativity, and working together for a common cause
Since a young age, Sheramin had a particular interest in humanitarian and charitable actions, and for this reason she became a nurse so she could help others, and continued working on solidarity and social projects. In creating AMI, she has pooled the qualities, values, and skills of the group to promote the culture of their respective countries of origin. “The objective is to lead several battles in different fronts against malnutrition of children and the elderly, the defence of the right of access to teaching and education, and the protection of the ecosystem, plus the strong desire to strengthen alliances between communities,” said Sheramin.
Meanwhile, Samira is “motivated by my passion for the culture, gastronomy, fashion, music and art of Latin American countries, Spain and Portugal. I want to discover these cultural riches and generate funds to support actions in these countries and help disadvantaged populations.”
Building a two-way bridge between Monaco and Ibero-America
AMI facilitates the connection between Ibero-American cultures and Monaco through the organisation of gastronomic, cultural events or educational exchanges, thereby promoting meetings, creating, or strengthening links between the different communities, the governments of Monaco and countries in the spotlight. AMI works closely with the local governments, businesses, and reputable personalities.
“We seek to promote exchanges between different regions, inviting artists, chefs, fashion designers, musicians, and artisans from these countries to participate in our events. This allows residents of Monaco and neighbouring countries to discover the richness of these cultures and support actions in these countries,” explained Sheramin.
As Susana also explained, the association helps Ibero-American countries by opening ties between the embassies and Monaco, and does so through events related to the culture of the countries. They also help country associations financially, so that they can carry out projects for disadvantaged communities.
“Spain and Portugal are the homelands of Latin America, we have very close and strong ties, so learning from their culture, gastronomy, history, and language, we get to know that of Latin America,” said Sarah. “When we carry out our negotiations, we always work with the official support of the embassies and governments, thus bringing them closer to Monaco and creating interest in the Principality.”
Prince Albert II with, from left to right: Christophe Prat – General Director Monaco Interior Dept., Luisa, Susana, Mrs Oscar Orrantia, Oscar Orrantia – Ambassador Ecuador, Sheramin, Yolanda Rodriguez, Lula, Sandra Murcia Robert. Credit: Alex Nicola Siffredi
Events organised by AMI – diplomatic gastronomy dinners
Their most notable events are the diplomatic gastronomy dinners scheduled annually at the Yacht Club of Monaco, putting in the spotlight different countries and organised in partnership with the Monaco Department of National Education, with a focus on the students from the Technical and Hospitality School, where the guest chef of the honoured country works alongside students. The objective is to promote understanding, respect, and appreciation of cultural heritage and gastronomy of each country, thereby helping to improve international interaction and cooperation as well as raise funds for their projects in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.
The first event was held in May 2022 and honoured the Dominican Republic. It was attended by representatives from that country and Prince Albert II of Monaco, accompanied by the Minister of Culture and Education.
The second gastronomy dinner honoured Ecuador on 9th May 2023, in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco, Ambassador of Ecuador in France and Monaco Oscar Orrantia, Christophe Prat, General Director Monaco Department of Interior, and distinguished guests.
AMI’s third gastronomy dinner is scheduled for 16th May 2024, and will focus on Honduras, inviting members of the diplomatic corps, and working closely with the Ambassador of Honduras in Paris and Monaco.
First Ibero-American Junior Festival. Photo supplied.
Sponsored competitions
AMI also organised the Ibero American Junior Festival on 15th October 2022, with the best dancers in the junior category judged by a Latin American Jury, composed of Enrique vargas Flores (Mexico), General Secretary of the Ibero-American Cultural Space); Sandra Murcia Robert (Colombia), AMI Ambassador; and Alejandro Corcuera (Peru), Marinera World Champion. It was an imaginary voyage to Peru through their typical dance representing their national identity with rhythm, elegance, force, and joy. On that festive occasion AMI celebrated their first anniversary of the association.
Meanwhile, AMI is sponsoring the participation of an Ecuadorian team that will play in the Sainte Dévote rugby tournament, in Monaco, next April. The team is made up of children aged nine to 12, and is the representative of the association’s rugby schools project, developed in collaboration with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
The Ecuadorian team with Princess Charlene, and her children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, in 2022 at the Stade Louis II for the Sainte Dévote Rugby Tournament. Photo supplied.
AMI celebrated its 2nd anniversary in October 2023 with a private party celebrating its members and events.
AMI’s goals
As Sheramin told Monaco Life, “We aim to become a positive and lasting force in seeking and achieving effective cooperation in the humanitarian field. We have opened the doors of Monaco wide to our countries of origin with a mission that requires our love and dedication. We are determined to continue our efforts to increase cooperation and help eradicate poverty.”
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A car carrying five students from the International University of Monaco was involved in a serious accident on the Boulevard Charles III over the weekend. A young woman died at the scene and the four other individuals are understood to still be in hospital.
Tragedy has struck the Principality after five of its young students, all believed to be enrolled at the International University of Monaco, were reportedly involved in a fatal car crash in the early hours of Sunday 17th December.
The incident occurred close to the border with Cap d’Ail and near the exit of the Millennium tunnel closest to the cemetery at 4.30am.
Five people are thought to have been travelling in the Audi RS24, but the identities of those involved have not yet been publicly confirmed.
Some details have, however, been revealed by the Monaco Public Prosecutor’s Office to Monaco Matin.
“The driver and the four passengers, all students at the International University of Monaco, were quickly taken care of by the emergency services,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office told Monaco Matin. “However, they confirmed the death of a passenger at the scene of the accident and evacuated two others, whose vital prognosis was in jeopardy, to the Pasteur hospital in Nice. The driver was transferred there the same day and the last passenger remains at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace.”
An investigation is currently underway to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.
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